Abstract Abstract

Background

Tanning equipment use is related to the early onset of cancer, with the risk increasing as the duration and repetition of exposure increase. In 2009, the International Agency for Research on Cancer classified tanning equipment use as carcinogenic to humans, and according to the World Health Organization, the risk of skin melanoma increases significantly when use begins before age 35.

Data and Methods

The rapid response component of the 2014 Canadian Community Health Survey collected data on the use of tanning equipment in the previous 12 months, including reasons for use, frequency/duration of use, precautions taken, and adverse reactions or injuries. This analysis examines the prevalence of self-reported indoor tanning in a nationally representative sample of Canadians aged 12 or older in the 10 provinces.

Results

In 2014, 4.5% of Canadians (an estimated 1.35 million) reported that they had used tanning equipment in the past year; 70.3% of them were female, and just over half of female users were aged 18 to 34. The prevalence of indoor tanning was highest among people with some postsecondary education and among those in higher income households (trend p-value < 0.0001). Most users reported fewer than 10 sessions in the past year. The most common reason (62.0%) was to develop a “protective” base tan.

Interpretation

Females made up the majority of tanning equipment users, particularly at ages 18 to 34. Efforts to increase awareness of the risks may be beneficial, given the high percentage of users who believed that indoor tanning offers some level of skin protection from future sun exposure.

Keywords

Eye protection, injury, sunbathing, sunburn, sunlamp, ultraviolet rays, warning labels

Findings

Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in Canada, and melanoma is its deadliest form. Excessive exposure to ultraviolet radiation is recognized as the primary cause of skin cancer, with the incidence rate almost doubling since the 1990s. It was estimated that 81,700 Canadians would develop some form of skin cancer in 2013 and that 1,470 would die from it. These numbers are projected to rise, based on Canada’s aging population and previous tanning behaviour. [Full Text]

Authors

Sami S. Qutob (Sami.Qutob@hc-sc.gc.ca), Michelle O’Brien, Katya Feder and James McNamee are with the Consumer and Clinical Radiation Protection Bureau, Health Effects and Assessment Division, and Mireille Guay and John Than are with the Environmental Health Science and Research Bureau, Population Studies Division at Health Canada.

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